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Home > List Archives

Physician Extenders (was RE: trauma-list Digest, Vol 54, Issue 16)

Bjorn, Pret pbjorn at emh.org
Mon Dec 17 17:00:00 GMT 2007


This is all very informative; but it speaks to statute, not ACS verification requirements.  
 
I know that there are differences, and I'm quite certain they're significant in this context.
 
Anybody have a Green Book handy?  Or better, does anyone have friends at the VRC?
 
Pret

________________________________

From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org on behalf of Lorick Fox, PA-C
Sent: Mon 12/17/2007 11:15 AM
To: Trauma & Critical Care mailing list
Subject: RE: Physician Extenders (was RE: trauma-list Digest, Vol 54, Issue 16)


Pret,

This actually is a potentially "interesting" question.  In most states (as far as I know), the acts of a PA are generally considered to be legally the acts of their supervising physician and that physician is responsible for appropriate delegation and monitoring of the PA's functions.  Some states define the PA scope of practice as that of their supervising physician, subject to that physician's judgement.  Many require a job description, or something along that line, at the time of approval of the license, but some do not.  Often, it is the hospital credentialing process that is most restrictive.  

For a period in Maryland, prior to prescribing privileges being explicitly granted, there was a time (1979) that we ended up with an Attorney General opinion that said that as the PA was acting as an agent for the physician, a hospital nurse was authorized AND required to accept PA written orders exactly as they would if the MD wrote them (i.e. if there was something they would question from the MD, they could call the MD to verify, otherwise, they were required to accept the order as that of the MD).  This was before PA's were even credentialed - they were simply considered surrogates. 

Cardiac surgery PA's often are credentialed to open chests in emergencies.  I suspect in many states, a PA licensed  to a trauma surgeon would be legally considered the same as the physician for in-house patients.  However, since no institution has ever credentialed a PA to take a patient to the OR solo (although there at least used to be states where that would theoretically be legal if a doc was so dumb as try to delegate same), I think that the in-house presence of the surgeon for a Trauma Center is assured. 

The AAPA (rightfully) makes a big deal of PA/MD or DO "partnership".  Every such partnership is to some extent unique because every physician and every PA have their own strengths and weaknesses.  For example: I don't have fancy level suturing skills - when I was covering an ER in 1981, my supervising physician refused to come in for cardiac arrests because "you know more about it that I do", but asked (directed) me to refer significant facial lacerations either the PCP or surgeon.  (I admit, that was a bit weird, and was based in part on the fact that the first cardiac arrest I managed there was "pronounced" by two very senior physicians who came to the ER to watch me; I declined to accept that judgment and the patient walked out of the hospital a week later.)

Every State has it's own PA law, and it has been a LOT of years since I was the Chairman of the Judicial Affairs for the American Academy of PA's, but I suspect this represents the legal position in most cases.

Lorick

At 04:43 PM 12/17/2007, you wrote:


	Hey, Lorick.  Well said.
	 
	As List veterans will attest, I'm wrong with astonishing frequency about
	a breathtaking variety of stuff.  But if only for my own edification,
	I'd be eager to hear from someone with connections to the ACS VRC before
	abandoning my half-witted interpretation of reality.  
	 
	During our earliest consultations with the College in the 1990's, we
	were strongly cautioned against having boarded medical intensivists
	cross-covering our traumas, even over short terms, even with a surgeon
	as backup.  Surely, then, there are surveyors who would frown on a PA
	covering nights.  
	 
	And good luck meeting Leapfrog.
	 
	Sorry if I'm muddying things.  It's what I do.  I'm ready and grateful
	for any enlightening smackdown that awaits.
	 
	Pret
	 
	 
	-----Original Message-----
	From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
	[ mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org <mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org> ] On Behalf Of Lorick Fox, PA-C
	Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 9:18 AM
	To: Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list
	Subject: Re: Physician Extenders (was RE: trauma-list Digest, Vol 54,
	Issue 16)
	
	
	
	        I understand what Pret means, but for clarity:
	        
	        Always have to have the surgeon in place for trauma admissions. 
	        However, I can assure you that many PA's manage SICU, MICU, CCU
	patients routinely, with the physician in the OR, at home or otherwise
	occupied. 
	        They don't provide SOLE management, but they provide
	initial/primary management, with the MD fine tuning (or making the "no
	good answer" decisions), either in person or via phone. 
	        St, Joseph's wasn't a trauma center (that was next door) but we
	had at least 30 ICU beds that I was the primary call person for between
	2000 and 0800 for the year and half I survived that.  The post CABG
	patients were primarily managed by the surgeon from home, but he would
	ask us to see them if there was question or they needed
	cardioversion/new line/airway management/etc.  If there was a surgical
	decision to be made, however, either the cardiac surgery PA or the
	surgeon would come in (often without my involvement at all - they could
	open chests, I couldn't).  "Manage ICU patients" was certainly in my
	state approved job description in both Georgia and Virginia.
	        
	        Lorick
	        
	        
	        At 03:54 PM 12/17/2007, you wrote:
	        
	
	                 Our general/trauma extenders assist in the OR, round
	with the attendings
	                 on all inpatients (inc ICU), do a variety of procedures
	(chiefly wound
	                 care, tubes, and lines), and handle much of the day to
	day
	                  documentation.  Our trauma surgeons also staff a busy
	general surgery
	                 practice, so there's a wide variety of work to be done.
	                 
	                 The PA's (there are no NP's in trauma at the moment, but
	our recruitment
	                 is non-discriminatory on that account) do not take call,
	and are not
	                 assigned to the trauma response team as such; however,
	when they're on
	                 site (weekdays mostly), at least one of them is usually
	accompanying the
	                 trauma attending, and thus tags along and acts as an
	extra set of hands,
	                 further freeing the surgeon to direct the resuscitation.
	                 
	                 I don't think you'll find a Level I or II center which
	lists "management
	                 of ICU patients" in the PA/NP job description.
	Functional realities
	                 notwithstanding, you've got to have a doctor (almost
	certainly a
	                 surgeon, and further, a boarded intensivist) directly
	responsible for
	                 ICU care.  It's part of the verification requirement.
	                 
	                 In my observation, our PA's get more OR and procedure
	time than most.
	                 I'm aware of plenty of practices wherein the extenders
	are used for
	                 clinical and clerical infrastructure (i.e., scut work).
	But then, ours
	                 were selected in large part for their surgical
	experience, and have
	                 enormous operative credibility.  We've been immensely
	fortunate in our
	                 hiring, and have a team of surgeons that admires and
	supports the unique
	                 surgical capacities of its assistants.  
	                 
	                 All of which is to say that in a great many programs,
	and for any number
	                 of PA's and NP's, one person's scut work is another's
	indispensable role
	                 in a comprehensive system of patient care.  I have no
	doubt that the use
	                 of extenders in trauma centers will continue and
	increase; but I can't
	                 see there ever being a standardized job description
	across the
	                 profession.
	                 
	                 Pret Bjorn, RN
	                 EMMC Trauma Program (ACS Level II)
	                 Bangor, ME USA
	                 
	                 
	                 
	                 -----Original Message-----
	                 From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
	                 [ mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
	< mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org <mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org> > ] On Behalf Of
	                  czuehlke at frontiernet.net
	                 Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 5:50 PM
	                 To: trauma-list at trauma.org;
	trauma-list-request at trauma.org
	                 Subject: Re: trauma-list Digest, Vol 54, Issue 16
	                 
	                 
	                 Greetings list members,
	                 
	                 This is directed toward those that are in Level I and II
	centers (or
	                 other
	                 high volume centers).
	                 
	                 How many of you use physician assistants on your
	service?
	                 
	                 For those that have residents and fellows, what is the
	role of the PA
	                 during
	                 pt care? Does the PA take call? Do the PAs manage
	patients in the SICU?
	                 
	                 Do you see a change in demand for PAs in trauma care?
	                 
	                 Hi,
	                 In the one trauma centers I work in the PA sees just the
	mildly ill  
	                 patients and places sutures and or staples in patients.
	The PA is  
	                 never seen in the trauma rooms nor is he/she in a place
	where there  
	                 are serious medical conditions. NP's are treated exactly
	the same way.
	                 At the other hospital newly named trauma center level II
	for 2010. It  
	                 does not use NP's or PA's at all.
	                 Carol Eisenbrandt
	                 
	                 
	                 Quoting trauma-list-request at trauma.org:
	                 
	                 > Send trauma-list mailing list submissions to
	                  >        trauma-list at trauma.org
	                 >
	                 > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web,
	visit
	                 >
	http://list.mistral.net/mailman/listinfo/trauma-list
	                 > or, via email, send a message with subject or body
	'help' to
	                  >        trauma-list-request at trauma.org
	                 >
	                 > You can reach the person managing the list at
	                  >        trauma-list-owner at trauma.org
	                 >
	                 > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is
	more specific
	                 > than "Re: Contents of trauma-list digest..."
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > Today's Topics:
	                 >
	                  >    1. Nearly Famous! (tuganddawn at talktalk.net)
	                  >    2. Physician Assistants in Trauma (Michael Krowka)
	                  >    3. Re: Physician Assistants in Trauma (Ronald
	Gross)
	                  >    4. RE: Physician Assistants in Trauma (Brian E.
	Fletcher)
	                  >    5. Re: Nearly Famous! (Krin135 at aol.com)
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	----------------------------------------------------------------------
	                 >
	                 > Message: 1
	                 > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:56:15 -0000
	                 > From: <tuganddawn at talktalk.net>
	                 > Subject: Nearly Famous!
	                 > To: <trauma-list at trauma.org>
	                 > Message-ID:
	<000a01c83dca$9b0826f0$4752f259 at 049682920380>
	                 > Content-Type: text/plain;      charset="iso-8859-1"
	                 >
	                 > Hello to everyone.
	                 >
	                 >   Before I begin may I wish all of you wherever you
	are and whatever  
	                 >  your beliefs a very Merry Christmas and a pleasant
	and event free   
	                 > New Year.
	                  >      I am a Paramedic/Firefighter working in the UK
	and have   
	                 > recently been asked to consider appearing in a
	documentary series   
	                 > about the ambulance service speciffically dealing with
	concerns   
	                 > about the increase in calls, abuse of the service and
	out of hours   
	                 > GP service effects.
	                  >     A few months ago I would have been completely
	against this idea   
	                 > but recent reforms, behaviour of management and
	treatment by other   
	                 > health care professionals has made me consider the
	potential   
	                 > benefits of exposing certain ignored aspects of my
	service   
	                 > (including the appalling lack of professionalism,
	training and   
	                 > negligence by many Paramedics).
	                 >   I wonder if the list might offer any insights they
	have about the   
	                 > ethics and problems faced with this sort of media
	exposure   
	                 > especially when one considers the uncontrolable
	environment we work   
	                 > in. I would also appreciate any advice about how to
	deal with these   
	                 > "cutthroat" sensationalist media types!
	                  >    In any event, thanks for your time and trouble and
	I hope to hear  
	                 >  your responses.
	                 >
	                 >   Yours with kindest regards
	                 >
	                 >   Tug Crumpton
	                 >
	                 > ------------------------------
	                 >
	                 > Message: 2
	                 > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:00:59 -0700
	                 > From: Michael Krowka <mkrowka at gmail.com>
	                 > Subject: Physician Assistants in Trauma
	                 > To: "Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list"
	<trauma-list at trauma.org>
	                 > Message-ID: <C38707BB.3C00%mkrowka at gmail.com>
	                 > Content-Type: text/plain;      charset="US-ASCII"
	                 >
	                 > Greetings list members,
	                 >
	                 > This is directed toward those that are in Level I and
	II centers (or
	                 other
	                 > high volume centers).
	                 >
	                 > How many of you use physician assistants on your
	service?
	                 >
	                 > For those that have residents and fellows, what is the
	role of the PA
	                 during
	                 > pt care? Does the PA take call? Do the PAs manage
	patients in the
	                 SICU?
	                 >
	                 > Do you see a change in demand for PAs in trauma care?
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > Michael D. Krowka
	                 > EMT-P
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > ------------------------------
	                 >
	                 > Message: 3
	                 > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:17:30 -0500
	                 > From: "Ronald Gross" <Rgross at harthosp.org>
	                 > Subject: Re: Physician Assistants in Trauma
	                 > To: "Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list"
	<trauma-list at trauma.org>
	                 > Message-ID: <47618535.7FF1.00B9.0 at harthosp.org>
	                 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
	                 >
	                 > Michael,
	                 >
	                 > We have 4 PAs and one APRN on service.  Contact me
	off-line and I   
	                 > would be happy to discuss.......
	                 >
	                 > Ron
	                 >
	                 >>>> Michael Krowka <mkrowka at gmail.com> 12/13/2007 6:00
	PM >>>
	                 > Greetings list members,
	                 >
	                 > This is directed toward those that are in Level I and
	II centers (or
	                 other
	                 > high volume centers).
	                 >
	                 > How many of you use physician assistants on your
	service?
	                 >
	                 > For those that have residents and fellows, what is the
	role of the PA
	                 during
	                 > pt care? Does the PA take call? Do the PAs manage
	patients in the
	                 SICU?
	                 >
	                 > Do you see a change in demand for PAs in trauma care?
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > Michael D. Krowka
	                 > EMT-P
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > --
	                 > trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
	                 > To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
	                 > http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > ------------------------------
	                 >
	                 > Message: 4
	                 > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:44:10 -0500
	                 > From: "Brian E. Fletcher" <bfletcher at columbus.rr.com>
	                 > Subject: RE: Physician Assistants in Trauma
	                 > To: "'Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list'"
	                  >        <trauma-list at trauma.org>
	                 > Message-ID:
	<20071214004410.BJDP22267.hrndva-omta06.mail.rr.com at BRIAN>
	                 > Content-Type: text/plain;      charset="us-ascii"
	                 >
	                 > We have 10 Nurse practitioners.  We manage the step
	down ICU, floor
	                 > patients, and respond to traumas.  We essentially
	function like a
	                 resident,
	                 > performing primary/secondary assessment, FAST, central
	lines, Chest
	                 tubes, A
	                 > lines, suturing etc.  We also have an NP clinic and an
	attending
	                 clinic. The
	                 > NP clinic sees lower acuity patients and we also
	assist in the
	                 attending
	                 > clinic.  Hope this helps.
	                 >
	                 > Brian
	                 >
	                 > -----Original Message-----
	                 > From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
	                 [ mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
	< mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org <mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org> > ]
	                 > On Behalf Of Michael Krowka
	                 > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 6:01 PM
	                 > To: Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list
	                 > Subject: Physician Assistants in Trauma
	                 >
	                 > Greetings list members,
	                 >
	                 > This is directed toward those that are in Level I and
	II centers (or
	                 other
	                 > high volume centers).
	                 >
	                 > How many of you use physician assistants on your
	service?
	                 >
	                 > For those that have residents and fellows, what is the
	role of the PA
	                 during
	                 > pt care? Does the PA take call? Do the PAs manage
	patients in the
	                 SICU?
	                 >
	                 > Do you see a change in demand for PAs in trauma care?
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > Michael D. Krowka
	                 > EMT-P
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > --
	                 > trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
	                 > To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
	                 > http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > ------------------------------
	                 >
	                 > Message: 5
	                 > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:39:34 EST
	                 > From: Krin135 at aol.com
	                 > Subject: Re: Nearly Famous!
	                 > To: trauma-list at trauma.org
	                 > Message-ID: <c73.2076a517.349338d6 at aol.com>
	                 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > In a message dated 13-Dec-07 14:57:36 Central Standard
	Time,
	                 > tuganddawn at talktalk.net writes:
	                 >
	                 > I  wonder if the list might offer any insights they
	have about the
	                 ethics and
	                 >  problems faced with this sort of media exposure
	especially when one
	                 > considers  the uncontrolable environment we work in. I
	would also   
	                 > appreciate any
	                 > advice  about how to deal with these "cutthroat"
	sensationalist media
	                 types!
	                 > In any event, thanks for your time and trouble and I
	hope to  hear
	                 your
	                 > responses.
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > Tug:
	                 >
	                 > good luck with your project.
	                 >
	                 > You might have better luck posting to the EMS-L using
	instructions
	                 found  at:
	                 >
	                 > List FAQ:      http://www.trauma.org/index.php/community/list/url/http:list.ftech.net/pipermail/trauma-list/2007-December/_HTTP://EMS-L.ORG <http://ems-l.org/>  <http://ems-l.org/ > _
	(http://EMS-L.ORG <http://ems-l.org/>  <http://ems-l.org/ > )
	                 > Unsubscribe:   _EMS-L-UNSUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG_
	                 > ( mailto:EMS-L-UNSUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG
	< mailto:EMS-L-UNSUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG <mailto:EMS-L-UNSUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG> > )
	                 > (subscribe should be _EMS-L-SUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG_
	                 > ( mailto:EMS-L-SUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG
	< mailto:EMS-L-SUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG <mailto:EMS-L-SUBSCRIBE at EMS-L.ORG> > ) )
	                 > Manage:   _ HTTP://EMS-L.ORG/MAN-EMS-L.HTM
	< http://ems-l.org/MAN-EMS-L.HTM <http://ems-l.org/MAN-EMS-L.HTM> > _
	                 ( http://EMS-L.ORG/MAN-EMS-L.HTM
	< http://ems-l.org/MAN-EMS-L.HTM <http://ems-l.org/MAN-EMS-L.HTM> > )
	                 > Post to list:  _EMS-L at EMS-L.ORG_ (
	mailto:EMS-L at EMS-L.ORG < mailto:EMS-L at EMS-L.ORG <mailto:EMS-L at EMS-L.ORG> > )
	                 > List Manager:  _LISTADMIN at EMS-L.ORG_ (
	mailto:LISTADMIN at EMS-L.ORG < mailto:LISTADMIN at EMS-L.ORG <mailto:LISTADMIN at EMS-L.ORG> > )
	                 > Moderator:   _MODERATOR at EMS-L.ORG_ (
	mailto:MODERATOR at EMS-L.ORG < mailto:MODERATOR at EMS-L.ORG <mailto:MODERATOR at EMS-L.ORG> > )
	                 >
	                 > Or one of the various Yahoo Paramedic groups...
	                 >
	                 > ck
	                 > Charles S. Krin, DO FAAFP
	                 >
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > **************************************See AOL's top
	rated recipes
	                 > (
	http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004
	< http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004 <http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004> > )
	                 >
	                 >
	                 > ------------------------------
	                 >
	                 > --
	                 > trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
	                 > To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
	                 > http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
	                 >
	                 > End of trauma-list Digest, Vol 54, Issue 16
	                 > *******************************************
	                 >
	                 
	                 
	                 
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	                 trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
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	                 trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
	                 To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
	                  http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
	
	        
	        LFFox, MPAS, PA-C
	         Distinguished Fellow, AAPA
	        CCA, American College of Cardiology
	        Associate, Society for Critical Care Medicine
	        Associate, Underwater and Hyperbaric Medical Society 
	        
	        
	        Lorick Fox, MPAS, PA-C
	         SEAVIN/Peace Vector IV
	        Unit 64903, Box 1201
	        APO, AE 09868-4903
	        (cell) +20-18-230-4448
	        (landline) +20-45-240-9450
	         www.lorick.org <http://www.lorick.org/> 
	         < http://www.lorick.org/ <http://www.lorick.org/> > 
	
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